Moedim
The word moedim means "appointments". The singular of moedim is moed.
H4150
מועדה מעד מועד
mô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh
mo-ade', mo-ade', mo-aw-daw'
From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): - appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).
In Genesis, during the creation week, we read:
"Then Elohim said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night;
and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;'"
- Genesis 1:14
The word for "seasons" is "moedim". Read that verse again replacing "seasons" with 'appointed times' or 'festivals'. It takes on a much richer meaning.
Considering that Yahweh made the sun, moon, and all the stars for not only days and years and signs (something else to consider), but also for appointed times. Truly, seasons, with the planting and harvesting of crops, changes in weather, and signs that another year is passing by, are appointed times. However, that is not the only definition of seasons that our Creator was speaking of to us.
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of Yahweh,
which you shall proclaim to be set apart convocations,
these are My feasts.'"
- Leviticus 23:2
The word for "feasts" in this passage is again "moedim". Yahweh's feasts are times He has appointed for His people to meet with Him. For those who contend that the feasts are just for the nation of Israel consider that Yah calls them HIS feasts twice in just that verse. From the Sabbath day each week to the feasts in spring and fall these are literally appointments for us to keep with our Creator. He has established them and He will keep them for His people. If we choose not to meet with Him on those days then we are not only disobeying Him but missing out on great blessing since we are not participating in something of His.
H4150
מועדה מעד מועד
mô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh
mo-ade', mo-ade', mo-aw-daw'
From H3259; properly an appointment, that is, a fixed time or season; specifically a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand): - appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn (-ity), synagogue, (set) time (appointed).
In Genesis, during the creation week, we read:
"Then Elohim said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night;
and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;'"
- Genesis 1:14
The word for "seasons" is "moedim". Read that verse again replacing "seasons" with 'appointed times' or 'festivals'. It takes on a much richer meaning.
Considering that Yahweh made the sun, moon, and all the stars for not only days and years and signs (something else to consider), but also for appointed times. Truly, seasons, with the planting and harvesting of crops, changes in weather, and signs that another year is passing by, are appointed times. However, that is not the only definition of seasons that our Creator was speaking of to us.
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'The feasts of Yahweh,
which you shall proclaim to be set apart convocations,
these are My feasts.'"
- Leviticus 23:2
The word for "feasts" in this passage is again "moedim". Yahweh's feasts are times He has appointed for His people to meet with Him. For those who contend that the feasts are just for the nation of Israel consider that Yah calls them HIS feasts twice in just that verse. From the Sabbath day each week to the feasts in spring and fall these are literally appointments for us to keep with our Creator. He has established them and He will keep them for His people. If we choose not to meet with Him on those days then we are not only disobeying Him but missing out on great blessing since we are not participating in something of His.
Cosmic Timekeepers
The sun, moon, and stars were made as our cosmic timekeepers. They not only illuminate the days and nights but also direct us in observing His appointed times. For several generations now we have slowly drifted away from relying on the heavenly bodies to follow His seasons to our own calendars, clocks, directional units, and more. Sadly, we have turned our attention away from elements of His creation to our own and in the process we have lost much in the way of 'time telling'. Am I saying we should throw out our watches and toss our modern calendars in the garbage? I am not saying that, but I am suggesting we need to begin paying more attention to those luminaries that HE has provided for us to observe. Keeping in mind that the sun, moon, and stars have a great impact on our everyday lives, from warmth and light to effects on gravity and tidal movements to signs that Yahweh has written in the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars are wondrous to behold, but they were made by Him to be predominately pieces of a giant, cosmic clock.
All of this is for His purposes.
All of this is for His purposes.
A Burnt Offering
In every appointed time listed in Leviticus 23 we see the requirement of a burnt offering. From the Sabbath day to the feasts an offering made by fire was commanded of the people. How does that translate to those in the "New" Covenant if we are to keep His feasts? Remember that each and every detail of the feasts of Yahweh are shadows and pictures of the reality of Messiah Yahushua. The sacrifices pointed to His atonement for us, but what about our role?
Consider the following verses:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
set apart, acceptable to Elohim, which is your reasonable service."
- Romans 12:1
"For our Elohim is a consuming fire."
- Hebrews 12:29 (Deuteronomy 9:3)
In offering our very lives up in service to our Creator and King (according to His ways and not our own) we become an acceptable offering to Him, and since He is a consuming fire we then become a burnt offering. Is this spiritualizing something that shouldn't be? Again I state that all of the Scripture points to Messiah since He is our all in all (Colossians 1:17) and every aspect of the appointed times of Yahweh is all about His Son. It is not spiritualizing in the sense of trying to understand something that is vague and untouchable, but rather, acknowledging His Word and worshiping Him in spirit and truth. Under the "New" Covenant the things of the "old" covenant have not passed away (as in destroyed) but instead gained their full meaning and application. The mere physical acts have given way to the spiritual realities and work of the Set Apart Spirit of the living Creator. Messiah was to be the only atoning offering all along and be High Priest of a priesthood that consisted of living stones and living offerings - His people!
Consider the following verses:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Elohim,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
set apart, acceptable to Elohim, which is your reasonable service."
- Romans 12:1
"For our Elohim is a consuming fire."
- Hebrews 12:29 (Deuteronomy 9:3)
In offering our very lives up in service to our Creator and King (according to His ways and not our own) we become an acceptable offering to Him, and since He is a consuming fire we then become a burnt offering. Is this spiritualizing something that shouldn't be? Again I state that all of the Scripture points to Messiah since He is our all in all (Colossians 1:17) and every aspect of the appointed times of Yahweh is all about His Son. It is not spiritualizing in the sense of trying to understand something that is vague and untouchable, but rather, acknowledging His Word and worshiping Him in spirit and truth. Under the "New" Covenant the things of the "old" covenant have not passed away (as in destroyed) but instead gained their full meaning and application. The mere physical acts have given way to the spiritual realities and work of the Set Apart Spirit of the living Creator. Messiah was to be the only atoning offering all along and be High Priest of a priesthood that consisted of living stones and living offerings - His people!
You are Invited
The moedim, or appointed times, that Yahweh has set up are important in the life of every believer. For centuries, though, they have been cast off as being only for Jewish people and not for the believing body of Messiah Yahushua. All believers in Him, whether Jew or Gentile, are called to meet with Him on His days and acknowledge His ways in them. When we set up our own times while ignoring His we are not only being rebellious and prideful, we are fully missing out on times of great blessing. The Creator of the sun, moon, and stars has not only written His story in the heavens but has also set up times on this earth to meet with people who would call on His name for their salvation.
The Sabbath and feasts of Yahweh were made especially for His special people - those who have accepted His covenant of grace and salvation through Yahushua Messiah. These times speak of Messiah's entire ministry from His birth to His death and resurrection and beyond to His return when He will dwell with His people for all eternity. The weekly Sabbath and feasts are only pictures of the awesome reality that is yet to come, but He still commands us to keep them here...and what wonderful pictures they are in Him!
The Sabbath and feasts of Yahweh were made especially for His special people - those who have accepted His covenant of grace and salvation through Yahushua Messiah. These times speak of Messiah's entire ministry from His birth to His death and resurrection and beyond to His return when He will dwell with His people for all eternity. The weekly Sabbath and feasts are only pictures of the awesome reality that is yet to come, but He still commands us to keep them here...and what wonderful pictures they are in Him!